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Just got a job at Deloitte M&A in Atlanta and am currently looking to buy a house. Would you advise I buy closer to Atlanta or the suburbs? I personally want to be in the suburbs but I hear the traffic situation is quite bad. Current consultants in Atlanta, how much time do you actually spend in the office vs remote vs client site? Would you advise I try and stay closer to the office?
Subject Expert
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The new X7 looks like a faakin’ Kia….
DB ECM - does anyone have a view?
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Coach
Subject Expert
Who knew biglaw partners were all such big Ye fans?
Mentor
Why is Latham’s website so ugly?
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I would just drop a friendly FYI-when I was a summer I was worried I’d annoy people with too many emails, they may not realize they’re being more annoying by not responding.
Mentor
This is a communication and a training issue. If they are not trained how to deal with law firm life then they have 0 clue what an appropriate response is. You cannot just assume that people that are new to a job know what they are doing, because unless they have worked in a firm before, chances are they have 0 clue. Invite them to grab a coffee and nicely walk them through what you expect and how the process normally works. By showing leadership, kindness and a willingness to invest in your juniors you will be building goodwill that will be a win win for everyone down the road. When people recognize that leadership is taking a vested interest in their growth they are much more inclined to put out quality work.
Coach
A13 - I meant it literally. Diversity as in anyone who doesn’t have the exact same background as you.
Edit to add that I’m not necessarily talking about “diverse” associates (which is a cringe concept). I’m talking about having a group of people that don’t all share the exact same cultural, professional, social experiences.
My mom taught kindergarten for 30 years. She said her very first day was insane because she asked the kids to line up and they didn’t respond. She did not realize that the kids didn’t know how to stand in line. Summers are kind of like that. Assume they know literally nothing and go from there.
U know nothing Jon snow
Subject Expert
Yes, you do. People who have not worked in the field before don't understand when a response is expected. You need to break down for them what your most basic expectations are until they catch on.
This happened to me when I was a summer. I had a previous career as a CPA, and in that job, we never copied a partner or sent “will do” emails as that was considered to be clogging up the inbox. So when I was a summer, I didn’t respond “will do” to a few emails and then got a rather rude explanation from a partner as to why that was required. I’ll never forget that and still have some resentment about it. The way she handled it made me feel so small and stupid, even though I had 3 years work experience in a professional field. So, yes, definitely let them know your expectations but be nice about how you go about it.
I don’t know why so many firm lawyers are miserable aholes - it’s not like being that way makes the job easier or more fun.
Subject Expert
Lol. Are you trying to give summers real work? My advice is to go through their buddy/work coordinator. You aren't going to get them in trouble. Your personal expectations do not matter. They aren't employees. They are on an extended interview.
Coach
Unless a partner told me I had to delegate to summers, I would never give them anything that actually matters such that they could negatively effect my work schedule.
Enthusiast
Have you considered adding in your email - “let me know you if you can work on this” or more directly, “please confirm you’ve received” or something to that effect?
I agree with everyone above that you need to be specific. I started working in a firm after a career outside of firms and didn’t know a lot of firm norms so I needed to be taught by example or directly.
Although I think acknowledging an email assignment is common sense, SAs, particularly K-JDs may not know that, so you’ll have to direct them.
I'm a senior associate (at a large global firm) and I only acknowledge internal emails maybe 20% of the time when I think it is necessary because I cannot jump on something in a reasonable amount of time or for some other reason that my judgment says an acknowledgement is needed. Nobody has ever expressed concern about this practice.
Admittedly, that number would have been higher when I was a summer or junior, before I knew the people I was working with. However, I don't think sending a pointless email is common sense (and most of the time it is pointless). So if the email is asking if the person can do XYZ, and they can, they may not see the point in acknowledging it. If you want that, just tell them you want it. It's not a big deal and shouldn't be handled by HR or anything. But don't act like they are dumb for not doing it imo.
Coach
Do they do the work?
Subject Expert
Summers are clients not staff. They want things from you not vice versa.
Mentor
They don’t know they’re supposed to. I would just ask nicely.
I posted in another part of this thread but this is not common sense. In fact, I would argue that it's often pointless and a waste of time. I'm a high-performing senior associate at a large firm and never had any problems or had anyone even ask me to acknowledge emails, so I'm not sure why some people are so convinced this is "common sense."
Besides, you should never assume an SA has "common sense" about office etiquette.
Its like day one of summers… let’s all take a deep breath
Enthusiast
Jeez the summer program has not even started for a hot minute, you should lay off and leave the task-assigning to more senior attorneys or the coordinator.
This post is coming across in a way that makes me think you may need to evaluate if you’re on a little bit of a power trip. Just let them know, nicely, that you would appreciate a “got it!” when they receive an assignment.
I am aware that this might not be good advice but I wouldn't deal with this myself and mention the situation to a mid-level or senior (without making this a big deal). HR and young partners are usually super protective of summer associates (for some reason) and given that you are a junior, I don't think that they will take you seriously if you complain about a summer associate. But I am curious what others think.
Yes. I thought summers were not responding at all and not comleting the tasks (it looks like I misunderstood the issue).
Coach
Could be a lot of things. This may be their first corporate job and they don’t know the social norms. Maybe they’re worried about flooding your inbox.
I would definitely suggest letting them know, but don’t “make it clear that you expect acknowledgement.” Just be kind and let them know it’s a norm for office culture.
“Hey, if you want a shot at a job here, you should do some work on which we can judge whether you’re worth hiring”
Coach
This is so antagonistic and unnecessary
I would follow up with them to confirm they received your assignment and are doing what is asked of them. This is completely unprofessional and you don’t need to have worked a single day in a law firm to know better than that. I’d certainly bring it up in any review of them as well.